In today’s fast-evolving economy, roles that did not exist five years ago are now in demand, while many current jobs are being redefined.
As a result, graduates are expected to possess more than just academic knowledge: Soft skills like adaptability, real-world experience and global awareness are increasingly important prerequisites across many industries.
It is against this backdrop that Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) is rethinking how it supports its students, moving away from a one-size-fits-all model towards an approach that reflects each learner’s strengths, interests and goals.
Starting in the new academic year this April, NYP will launch its Go Beyond initiative, which features three pathways that allow students to customise their diploma journey in line with their academic and career aspirations.
Importantly, these pathways are integrated into the curriculum, with no increase in hours. This means students do not need to take on additional modules or extend their studies beyond the standard three-year diploma programme.
From April, NYP students will get to choose from three enhanced learning pathways to determine how they want to learn and develop their skills for the future economy.
PHOTO: NANYANG POLYTECHNIC
Depending on their chosen pathway, students will gain real-world experiences through internships and overseas exchange programmes, as well as earn relevant industry-recognised certifications. As most of these are assessed on a pass-or-fail basis and excluded from Grade Point Average (GPA) computation, students can fully immerse themselves in the experience without worrying about attaining a specific grade.
At the heart of this new initiative is the recognition that students have different ambitions and definitions of success.
NYP principal and chief executive officer Russell Chan explains: “Our learners come from a diverse profile, and have their own aspirations, needs and wants. For instance, there are a fair few who seek to work prior to going on to university. Others will want to build international networks and experiences during their three years in the polytechnic. The idea is that we will have choices that align to what is important to them and they can embark on these pathways while in NYP.”
